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 enlarge | Author: Bryan Peterson
Publisher: Amphoto Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $12.81
You Save: $12.14 (49%)
New (26) Used (8) from $12.35
Avg. Customer Rating:  27 reviews
Sales Rank: 846
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 160
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.5
ISBN: 0817463011
Dewey Decimal Number: 771
EAN: 9780817463014
ASIN: 0817463011
Publication Date: April 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
Leaving the intellectual muddle out of it, this is a book you'll want to own as a glorious idea generator July 8, 2008
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
When I first looked at "Understanding Shutter Speed" by Bryan Peterson on Amazon I wondered how shutter speed, only one of the components of an exposure, made up a book. In fact, there are some organizational problems that are caused by choosing this particular slice as a wedge into the topic of photography. A good editor might well have wondered what the final chapter on "Composition" is doing at all in this particular book.
The great strength here is idea generation. It's hard not to look at the illustrations in this book and say, "Hey why don't I try that?" The caption information is explicit enough so that you can recreate the ideas shown for yourself, or use them as a jumping off point. As an idea book, "Understanding Shutter Speed" is well worth its price.
Personally, I find the text (as opposed to the photo captions) problematic. Peterson seems out of his depth when it comes to digital. He really seems to think that from a noise viewpoint you are better off underexposing by two stops and adjusting in RAW as opposed to boosting the ISO and exposing properly (he's wrong). His discussion of ISO using a metaphor of hundreds of carpenters struck me as simply silly and without much point.
But leaving the intellectual muddle out of it, this is a book you'll want to own as a glorious idea generator.
 Good, but not great July 7, 2008
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I first bought "Understanding Exposure" from this same author, and felt it was one of the best books I have ever read re: photography. A manual of sorts I still keep nearby. This edition focuses on the sub-point of shutter speed as it relates to exposure.
The Good:
Great color photography with good examples of how varying shutter speeds will affect an image. There are a number of tricks -- like you can shoot action coming directly at you at 1/250, but need 1/500 for lateral or vertical movement.
The Bad:
I felt the book had a lot more fluff than the author's other effort. Some of the images were re-used -- or at least came from the same shoot -- and it had a lot more creative examples which I personally didn't like. It was outside the box a bit in terms of how to use shutter speeds, my complaint is that the results, even if intended, were not desirable.
Overall:
I liked this book, and glad I have it as a supplement to my growing photo library; but, I would not buy this before having his other edition. Shop price on this. I wouldn't overpay. I would give this 3 1/2 stars if Amazon allowed it.
Focusing specifically upon the challenge of photographing subjects in motion or at low light levels June 7, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Professional photographer and instructor Bryan Peterson presents Understanding Shutter Speed: Creative Action and Low-Light Photography Beyond 1/125 Second is a handbook for intermediate to advanced photographers, focusing specifically upon the challenge of photographing subjects in motion or at low light levels. Full-color photographic examples illustrate the tips, tricks, and techniques for capturing top-quality images, while the straightforward text imparts a lifetime of expert wisdom in clear and concise terms. "You will always attain the fastest possible shutter speed at any given ISO when you use the largest possible lens opening, and you will be able to attain the slowest possible shutter speed at any given ISO by using the smallest possible lens opening... That well-known cotton candy effect you can get with [waterfall shots] doesn't start until you use apertures of f/16 or f/22." Enthusiastically recommended for expert or professional photographers seeking to refine their camera work.
 Good, but you might need more camera May 26, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
This book provides a lot of good ideas for shooting more artistic images. Covering a variety of shutter speeds and settings, it does a good job of inspiring you. It also features photos taken using the settings described in the text.
But here's why I gave it only four stars. It's not the author's fault, but you may need more camera to take advantage of some of the suggestions. I use a Sony H5 which falls in between point-and-shoot and full SLR. Even in full manual mode, I'm unable to adjust the aperture past f8. Consequently, longer shutter speeds result in serious overexposure. Again, not the author's fault, just a point to be aware of.
You Have Got to Have it. May 20, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
If you are having difficulty understanding shutter speed this is the book for you. As with all of Bryan's books it is easy to read and understand. I would recommend this book for anyone who loves photography it is a great resource.
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